Energy-recovery Ventilators
Energy-recovery Ventilators | Ventilation and Air Quality | Heating and Air Conditioning | Evensville
Feel the difference an Energy-Recovery Ventilator can make in Evensville’s ever-changing climate. HEP’s advanced ERV systems capture the conditioned air you’ve already paid to heat or cool, transfer its energy to the fresh outdoor stream, and then whisk stale, contaminated air outside—so your comfort never comes at the expense of your wallet. Designed for seamless integration with your existing HVAC equipment, our solutions quietly balance humidity, expel pollutants, and keep your home’s temperature right where you want it.
When you trust HEP, you’re choosing a local team that lives and breathes ventilation and air quality excellence. We size each ERV precisely for your square footage, install it with minimal disruption, and back everything with ongoing maintenance plans that safeguard both your health and your investment. Breathe easier, save energy, and enjoy a cleaner, cozier Evensville home—contact HEP today and let fresh air flow the smart way.
FAQs
What is an Energy-Recovery Ventilator (ERV) and how does it improve indoor air quality in Evensville homes?
An ERV is a ventilation appliance that exhausts stale indoor air while simultaneously drawing in fresh outdoor air through a heat- and moisture-exchange core. The core transfers heat and humidity between the two air streams, so the fresh supply air is pre-conditioned before it reaches your living space. For Evensville residents, this means year-round removal of pollutants, odors, and excess humidity without the large energy penalty you would see from simply opening windows or using exhaust fans alone.
Why is an ERV better suited to Evensville’s climate than a Heat-Recovery Ventilator (HRV)?
Evensville’s climate is humid in summer and mild-to-cool in winter. An HRV only exchanges heat, so it often brings in moist outdoor air during the summer, forcing your air conditioner to dehumidify it. An ERV exchanges both heat and moisture, so much of that humidity is rejected back outdoors, which reduces the latent load on your cooling system and keeps indoor relative humidity in the comfort zone.
Can an ERV integrate with my existing heating and air-conditioning system?
Yes. Most ERVs are designed to tie directly into the supply and/or return ductwork of a conventional forced-air furnace, heat pump, or air-conditioner air handler. A dedicated control can let the ERV run on a schedule, by demand (using indoor CO₂ or humidity sensors), or in unison with the blower fan. If your home lacks ductwork, stand-alone ERV models with dedicated duct runs can still be installed.
How much energy can I expect to save by installing an ERV?
Savings vary with usage patterns and house tightness, but DOE field studies show ERVs can recover 60–80 % of the heating or cooling energy that would otherwise be lost through ventilation. In a typical 2,000-sq-ft Evensville home built to modern air-tightness standards, this often translates to 200–400 kWh of electricity and 50–100 therms of gas per year—roughly 10–15 % of the HVAC portion of the utility bill.
What routine maintenance does an ERV require?
1) Filters: Inspect the incoming and outgoing air filters every 3 months and replace or wash them as instructed by the manufacturer. 2) Core: Remove and vacuum or rinse the heat-exchange core every 6–12 months to maintain high efficiency. 3) Vents and grilles: Keep outdoor hoods free of leaves, lint, or snow. 4) Drain pan: If your unit has a condensate drain, flush it annually to prevent clogs. A full maintenance session typically takes 20–30 minutes and can be done by the homeowner or during a yearly HVAC tune-up.
Is an ERV a good option for both new construction and retrofit projects in Evensville?
Absolutely. In new construction, an ERV can be specified during the design stage so the ducting is fully integrated and the unit meets local building-code ventilation requirements. For existing homes, compact ERVs can often be installed in attics, crawl spaces, or utility rooms with minimal disruption. Local incentives from TVA and federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act can offset part of the installation cost for both scenarios.